Thanks for the advice!
My problem seems to be that the females are producing eggs and picking spots to lay them, but the males seem oblivious to the overtures. I have two males and two females in a 50 gallon heavily planted tank, not really by design. I'd planned on only having one male, but was sold my two electric blues as a male/female pair when they were both males.
Anyway, one of the females is again big with eggs and picking spots to lay them and chasing away other fish, but as I noted the males seem to treat her as a competitor rather than potential mate. This morning I notice that she had a small whitish spot near the dorsal fin. When I examined with a magnifying glass when she paused near the front I could see it looked like a nip right through her scales.
Behaviorally she seems fine, but what do y'all think? Two males and two females in a heavily planted 50 gallon too many? You can see the tank here (
Aquarium Blog). The two electric blue males look so nice and healthy I'd hate to get rid of one. I only have two rummy nose tetras as dithers. I meant to have more, just bad luck. Could more rummy nose distract them sufficiently or just add fuel to the fire? (four rams, one oto, two cories, two rummy nose, five tiny scarlet badis, a mystery snail, and maybe a shrimp or two).
My wife suggested I set up another tank. I guess I should jump on that suggestion, but I'm a bit of a freak in wanting to do things just right and the last thing I need is another money sink. Woe is me. Lemme know what you think!
Try a little brine shrimp, a PWC and some Tetra Black Water Tonic (dose per tank size). Every time I do that with ours they go egg crazy. Too bad ours are still so young, they don't take good care of the eggs yet.
Good luck